Connector for electric conductors.



I H. P. MAXIM. CONNEOTOR FOR ELECTRIC CONDUOTORS.

APPLIUATION FILED DEC. 20, 1910.

Patented Sept. 24,1912.

HOSEA F. MAXIM, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OTTO WELLS,

OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept-24, 1912.

Application filed December 20. 1910. Serial No. 598,453.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOSEA F. MAXIM, a citizen of the United States, residing at N orfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Connectors for Electric Conductors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devices for holding or retaining conductor wires, such, for instance, as employed in connection with bat teries, although, of course, adapted for any and all devices where itinay be desired to provide simple and eflicient means for quickly, yet securely afiixingin position the end of a wire or wires, insuring their being firmly held but permitting of-reaoy removal when desired.

The present invention has for its objects among others to provide a device of this character-capable of manufacture at small nected and obviating the Ewing taken at rig cost, yet eilicient in use and which will effectually hold the end of the wire and avoid the contacts becoming broken or discontrouble heretofore existing by reason'of the screw usually employed corroding and thus becoming fastened in its hearing so that it cannot be easily. removed, as well as that resulting from the screws becomin loose and allowing the wires to get out 0 place.

Other objects and advantages of the in. vention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in 'the; which, with'the nu-- accompanying drawings, Inerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is'a perspective view showing the application'of the invention to a battery of known form. Fig. 2 is a View of the blank from which the body portion of the holder is formed. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 with a portion broken away. Fig. 4 is a detail in elevation looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view of the holder complete before its application to an electrode. Fig. .16 is an elevation of the spring employed, the same being removed. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section throii h the holder, the section t angles to that of Fig. 3.

particularly.

completed form,

the holder,

sheet of material and provided near one end with openings 2 and 3 at equaldistances from the central longitudinal line through the blank. When the blank is folded into lts operative form, these two openings will come into alinement for a purpose which 05 will soon appear. At the other end the blank is formed with two oppositely disdisposed slots 4 and 5 each having a substantially straight wall 6 parallel with the adjacent edge of the blank, the opposite wall being inclined, as shown at 7, forming a shoulder 8, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The inner endsof these slots are closed, as shown at 9, and when the blank is bent into its rically oppositely disposed. The blank is rolled or otherwise bent to give it a tapered cylindrical form, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, the adjacent edges of the material 'being separated, as at 10 in.Figs. 4 and 5, to 30 allow of sufficient resiliency.

11 is a spring preferably in the form of a flat spring plate arranged in the conical dy formed, as above described, with one end protruding or finger piece whereby thesp'ring may be readily manipulated. The 0 posite end 'of the spring-is somewhat extend d in width, as shown at 13 forming'thelips 14 and the shoulders 15, this spring is inserted within the holder, as'illustrated in Fig. 3, it is bent transversely to its length, as at 16, which bent portion has a bearing against the adjacent wall of the thumb through thesmaller' end of the holder, an

the opposite end engaged in the slots 4-5 of the holder. The extreme end. of the spring bears against the shoulders 8, as

shown in Fig. 3, the flanges 14 being disposed within the slots and bearingagainst the inclined wall 7. This serves to throw the free end of the spring toward and practically into contact with the inner face of the wall of the which the/bent portion of the spring ears as is evident from Fig. 3.

In use the holder is applied by forcing it through an opening in the member to which it is to be these slots will be diamet-J as at 12, to form a thliinb.

as shown in Fig. ,6. When portion 12 extending holder opposite that a ainst affixed. In this instance it is 19 through the coincident openings 2 and shown attached to an electrode 18 of an ordinary battery 19. In Figs. 1 and 3 the holder is shown as forced into the opening in said member 18 and there held by friction owing to its taper form and the resiliency given it by reason of the slot 10 provided between the adjacent edges of the material from which the holder is ormed. Thus applied, the device is ready for use. To attach the end of a wire, as for instance 20, the spring is forced in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, which allows the end 21 of the wire to be readily inserted between the spring and the adjacent wall of the holder, the said end of the wire being passe? 3 0 the completed holder. When pressure is removed from the portion 12 of the spring, the resiliency of the latter causes the same to automatically move toward the wire and to firmly clamp the latter between the spring and the Walls of the said openings. Thus the WlIGlS firmly clamped in position without employment of screws and all tendency to become'detached is obviated. In Fig. 1 I have shown another holder at 22 embodying all of the essential features of construction of the one hereinbefore described except that itis not made of tapered form, although even this may be present, it desired. This is designed to be attached to the projecting metallic rim of the dry battery or to any other support in any suitable manner but as the mode of attachment is not claimed, it is not deemed necessary to specifically illustrate it.

Modifications in details may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What is claimed as new is '1 1. In a device of the class described the combination of a tubular element having near one end opposed alined apertures, and

a movable finger mounted within the said tubular element and having its outer end extending to points outside of the tubular element, the said finger being resilient and adapted to press against a wire extending through the said alined apertures.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a tubular elementprovided with opposite alined apertures, and a resilient finger within the tube adapted to engage with a wire extending through the said apertures.

3. In a device for the purpose described, a resilient tapered holder having a transverse opening near one end and a sprin held within the holder at the opposite enc with its free end protruding through said holder and adapted to clamp a wire. passed through said opening.

4. In a device'for the purpose descrilwd, a tapered longitudinally split spring holder having an opening near one end, and a spring extending lengthwise within the holder and secured thereto at one end with its free end protruding through the holder and adapted to clamp a member passe through said opening.

5. In a device for the purpose described, a holder having a transverse opening near one end and oppositely disposed slots near the other end with shoulders, and a spring extending lengthwise of the holder and having at one end flanges and shoulders cooperating with said slots and with the shoulders thereof. I

6. A device of the class described, the combination of a tubular element provided near one end with alined apertures and near the other end with opposite alined slots and a resilient finger mounted at one end in the said slots and adapted to engage at the other end with a wire extending through the said apertures.

7. In a device of the class described the combination of a tubular element provided at one end with opposite alined apertures and at the other end with opposite alined slots, a finger mounted at one end in the said slots and adapted to normally engage at its other end with a wire extending through the said apertures and means for holding the said finger in the said slots.

8. In a device of the class described the combination of a tubular element provided near one end with two opposite alined apertures and at its other end with two opposite alined slots each provided with a notch, an

a finger provided with transversely extending parts adapted to enter the said notches of the slots to hold the finger in place, the said finger being adapted to engage at its other end with a wire extending through the said apertures.

9. Ina device of the class. described the combination of a tubular element provided near one end with two opposite alined slots each provided with a notch and a finger provided at one end with transversely extending parts adapted to enter the said notches in the slots and provided near its center with parts adapted to engage the wall of the tubular element to prevent disengagement of the said transversely extendingparts from the notches. the said finger being adapted to engage at its other end with a wire extending through the said apertures.

10. In a device of the class described the combination with a conducting holder provided with an opening of a tapering tubular element formed of resilient. material and provided with an open slot along one side. the said element being adapted to be forced into the opening in the holder to he rigidly supported thereby and means for niechaui cally and electrically connecting a conductor. wire with the said elementat its smaller end.

combination with a conducting holder formed of 11. In a device ofthe elass described the proan opening of a tubular element resilient material and provided along one side with an open slot, the said element being adapted on account of its i'ided with resiliency to engage with the walls of the opening in the holder and means for electrically and mechanically connecting a con-t 10 ductor wire with the holder near one'end.

12..In a device of the class described, the combination of a tubular element having near one end opposed alined apertures, and

Gonies (it this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the ing near one end. and a spring- !zvld at one .end within the holder and adapted to clamp a wire passed through the said opening, the free end of the said spring protruding from th holder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

14.. In a device for the purpose described,

a holder having a transverse opening and a spring held at one end within the holder and adapted to clamp a wire passed through the said opening, the free end of the spring protruding roin the holder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

HOSEA F. MAXIM. Vitnesses:

Mon LEVY, M. M. B. GOFFIGEN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

